Preserving Paradise

Kalutara is located in the Western Province of Sri Lanka and has some of the best beaches in the country. Apart from the beaches, you can find historical locations, prehistoric sites and places of religious worship to discover.

Richmond Castle

Built during the 1900s, the elegant Richmond Castle belonged to a local chieftain mudaliyar Don Arthur De Silva. The impressive colonial house overlooks stunning countryside vistas bordering the Kalu Ganga.

Bask in the sacred Kalutara Bodhi

This Bodhi Tree (Ficus Religiosa) is one of the 32 saplings taken from the Jaya Siri Maha Bodhi Tree in Anuradhapura and planted during the reign of the first Buddhist King of Sri Lanka, Devanampiyatissa 247-207 BCE.

Visit the Fa Hien Caves

Encounter pre-historic caves inhabited by Fa-Hien, a 3rd-century CE travelling Buddhist monk. You can find Several skeletal remains and other artefacts here, and many hotels in Wadduwa, Sri Lanka are great to stay in while you visit, like The Blue Water Hotel and Spa.

Historical Kechimalai Mosque

Ketchimala Shrine,Beruwala | Image by Hafiz Issadeen via *Flickr,CC BY-ND 2.0 DEED*

This is the first mosque built on the island! This mosque in pure white overlooks the deep blue sea for a striking contrast. You can also find the graves sites of the first Muslim settlers who arrived from Yemen to Sri Lanka!

Water Sports

If you want an adrenaline rush try some water sports while in Kalutara. You can attempt jet skiing, windsurfing, parasailing and diving or go on a boat safari on the Kalu Ganga.